I haven't personally ridden a track day but have attended a few with mates. Here are my observations.

On 4/05/2009 IdratherbeclimbingM9 wrote:>What is the format?

Depending on the organisor. For a 'ride day'it is a number of sessions throughout the day of normally 20mins. For a 'learn to ride better' course it varies from company to company.

>Theory beforehand then practical following?

If it's a standard track day then normally they have a lunch break where they'll get everyone together for a Q & A session. If it's a 'learn to ride better' course then normally theory first.

>Do you get feedback / further instruction between sessions? ... (I would>expect your answer to be 'yes'! ... hence my next question) ~>>If you go out in the following session to having just received feedback>do they give near real-time further fine tuning if they think you are not>applying the information correctly?

On the 'learn to ride better' course there normally is a fair bit of one on one time where they follow you round and will have a chat then follow some more.

>How personalised is it, ie instructor to student ratio?

It depends on what you pay. Can be one up to six students.

>You say you put the wind up yourself; but was this from getting out of>your comfort zone/depth initially, or because you had redefined your limits,>... and then tried to push them even further?

I would hazard a guess he had the front or back slide a bit when pushing the limits. Can scare teh bejeezus out of you if your not used to it.

>Do they teach you any tricks to try and use once that inevitable situation>arises?

On the Stay Up Right course they certainly do.

>Further feedback appreciated as I am a bit reticent to spend money to>go and scare myself plus possibly damage the bike unless I figure I will>get sufficient value out of it to run that risk! Having ridden for quite>a while now and survived so far, it tends to make me wonder how much value>it is to those who may have already learnt a few tricks.

You've probably worked out by now there are two different styles of 'ride days'. The first is just that. A day when you can just ride around, going as fast as you like. A full day would normally consist of about 6-7 20min sessions in graded groups. Slow, fast and express are usually the three. You're not allowed to pass on the inside and the bikes can be registered or not. The risk of bining it are up to you and how close you push to the limit.

The second type is the 'learn to ride better' course. Stay Up Right is probably the best known but there are quite a few around. These course go through a bit of thoery depending on what the course is for, then head out for sessiosn where they put the theory into practice. Even guys who have been riding for 20 years learn from these courses. To me this sounds like what you're after. You may have 'survived' after all these years but I reckon you might learn a couple of things that make your riding experience just that much more satisfying. I know once I get enough spare coin I'll be doing one. Plus it lowers your insurance premium.

>... which brings to mind another question. If a student does lose it badly,>do they have decent medical attention and mechanical service available>if required?

They have full medical facilities at all ride course/days that I know of.

It may be obvious to some, but I did not know that a ride day was simply just that rather than being a course, so I am now better informed.

I shall scout for other locals who may be interested, as it sounds like a good thing (doing a 'ride better' course), and prolly more fun with some peers.
After that, a ride-day at Phillip Island would be a buzz!

On 17/01/2009 masterofrup wrote:>(The OT that just won't die)>thinking about upgrading my little old v twin honda to either a mid size>sport tourer no bigger than 1000cc or similiar size dual sport at the road>oriented end of the equation.

Yeah M9 my day was just the ride no instruction. There is an option for instruction during the day which is an extra cost.the first 3 sessions we did the first few laps were behind the instructor to get an idea of the track and to work out some lines.(This was for the slow group the other 2 groups did not do this). There was an ambulance there all day but as for mechanicals not much there was a suspension specialist and a bit of other stuff but anything bad then you are on your own.
The best bit was to be able to open the bike up a bit without having to worry about Inspector plod or any others on the road who want too take me out.

It is Australias longest running motorcycle rally and will be at Yarrangobilly (between Cooma and Tumut) in the Snowy Mtns.

The camping site is picturesque (right beside the Snowy Mtns Hwy where it crosses Yarrangobilly creek), though I would expect the attendance numbers to cause the few facilities there to be in demand.
It is likely to be cold (could even be snow), but if the weather is obliging, then some of the best riding to be had in Australia is at hand, ... otherwise it could be called an adventure! For those who don't like dirt it is tar road access however the journey to/from is often done as the purpose of the trip and some convoluted ways are taken as the 'norm' by some.

There isn't likely to be any climbing done, but if you have never seen a VW magnesium engine block burn then...

I have only been to one of theirs previously and found the atmosphere friendly and the variety of bikes/riders in attendance to be a bit of an eye-opener for my bumbly perceptions.

I intend going.
I know of some attending from Geelong, and several from Albury/Wodonga way ...

Blatant Spam, but hey, it's a good cause, and a club, not an individual, stands to make money. Mac Park (a race track in Mount Gambier) do track days for $80 (includes track hire and 1 event motorcyclying australia licence - $60 if you have an MA licence) on the last Saturday of every month. Check out www.macpark.org for more info. Compare this to any vicco tracks and it's a bargain (although $220 for a phillip island track day is the best $220 you will ever spend!).
Mac park is a chilled out place, riders are divided into groups depending on experiance, pace or ability, and you will get ample track time. Free/cheap (unsure) camping is also available if you come from afar. No official tuition, but plenty of friendly people to offer advice if you so wish. They also do the occasional beginer/first-time-on-a-track-day as well, which have been well received by those that attended.
Just putting it out there!

I ended up leaving at noon to meet up with a fellow rider at Hume Dam who rides a BMW older style Dakar, due him getting home late Friday night and needing to pack.
Went via Jingellic-Tumbarumba (fuel)-Elliot Way*-Sioux City-Three Mile Dam-Kiandra outskirts; and arrived about 1630 hrs after cool travelling due air temp was 3° C, without wind-chill !

(* ~> where a Chough committed suicide on my mirror; … good thing it wasn't a brumby! Strange how they flock together and about 19 went one way while a single one turned back… Mirror is still intact and it saved me wearing the Chough as a face ornament.)

The place was pretty well packed (I guestimate about 1,000 attendees), with most available tent places occupied, so we separated to pitch our tents. I was lucky as I only needed a tree!
Got my Rally Badge, had dinner and met my mate's mates, while sharing their campfire, then later went back to my tent location to mingle with some new acquaintances I'd met there.
The fireworks, etc, appeared to be up to the usual high standard that night.
Fairly constant light rain set in overnight.

Next morning attended the 'raffle'. It seemed a number of pre-booked badge numbers were called out but the attendees were not present, so they moved on to the next number drawn for the many sponsor prizes handed out ...
The weather set in further with occasional heavier rain moments, and I was surprised to see about half the attendees depart. Apparently many went on to another Rally (for sidecar enthusiasts), at another location.
My mate returned home due to prior family commitments.

At my original tree I found myself camped alone about mid-day, so checked with another group that it was OK with them if I relocated to the tree in their camp midst. No worries, so I did this while they went to the thermal pool at Yarrangobilly. It is a constant 27° but I consider that too cold these days as I am used to a hotter spa!

I joined in the communal-nosh-culture-party with them that evening. This was held under the bridge(!) due the constant rain, which turned to sleet and got heavier in the night with an occasional wind-buffeting thrown in for good measure.
Next morning feedback from others was that at about 4 km on the Cabramurra side of our camp at Yarrangobilly there was snow on the road down to that level …
I had a leisurely morning packing my camp during the lighter moments of rainy sleet and was happy to cruise the process due not having an agenda. This was probably a first for me to be ready before the (group of five), others that I was now associated with, having agreed to ride 'home' together. I usually find myself being the ditherer in a group as I don't like having to adjust things once underway...

Rode to Tumut, with the rain mostly clearing by the time of our arrival at the base of Talbingo Mtn and its associated township of Talbingo.
Had a welcome hot lunch at The Excelsior Café (Tumut, and service was slow as-), before refueling and continuing with remaining two others as a group to Tumbarumba (via old Tumba Rd), and then back down to Jingellic; where one bike split off and headed to Holbrook. The other and I continued to Bethanga (via rain/rainbows/sun-through-clouds/& panoramic views), where he stayed, and I continued on home. That gent set a reasonable pace, and if you drop off it, I reckon you would not want to be playing 'catch-up'.

I saw no other ninefiddies like mine at the Rally and only a few smaller KTM dirt bikes. There seemed to be heaps of BMW's (many of older style), followed by Jap bikes, for making up the majority of the numbers that attended. Probably ¾ of the bikes that attended were road oriented rather than hybrids or off-road.

Although the weather was ordinary it added its own ambience to the brilliant riding-country involved.
I now have strong memories of sunlight shafts from behind dark grey clouds glinting off billabong-water on flood-plains, motorcycle ahead banking into the next corner, and looking in my rear vision mirror to see the motorbike behind exiting a corner while seemingly being at the base of a rainbow, with yellow evening-light picking out the wet leaves of trees on a grassy hillside as a backdrop further behind ...

Camp on Monday morning during a lull in the drizzle ~> my tent is a portaledge!

On 11/06/2009 Duncan wrote:>I got my P's yesterday. Now I can go at 90km/h!

Hey way to go Duncan!!
I can keep my reputation as the only person i know to have failed his P test on the first attempt.
90ks is ok. Full licence is only 110klicks. and nobody rides a bike quicker than the legal limit. Do they ?? ;););)

On 11/06/2009 ajfclark wrote:>I think the speed limit is 130kph on some NT highways.

I was under the impression that the speed limit in each state was whatever the Police can do in their
pursuit vehicles through the hills, +15km/hr. That seems to get the job done. ;)

Ps. Broady is a f---en great track, hey! Tight and technical, with most exits off-camber and a few blind
ones thrown in for good measure. When you learn the track, it's a great place to take your riding mates
to, and demoralize them! hahaha
And further advice: Seek out mastery of the art of riding in the wet. When you get to the stage where
you're comfortable on the gas even though the front and rear are both loose as, you'll be in good stead!

On 11/06/2009 hangdog wrote:>On 11/06/2009 Duncan wrote:>>I got my P's yesterday. Now I can go at 90km/h!>>Hey way to go Duncan!! >I can keep my reputation as the only person i know to have failed his>P test on the first attempt.>90ks is ok. Full licence is only 110klicks. and nobody rides a bike quicker>than the legal limit. Do they ?? ;););)

Isn't that the limit for first gear. So long as you don't change before you get to 110 they won't ping you. :-)

On 1/07/2009 atreyudelacy wrote: >eventually it'll receive the full cafe racer treatment.
(snip)>- Full rebuild of the whole bike

>pretty much the best bike ever. :-)

Unless you love mechanical tinkering it sounds like you bought the wrong bike?
Nah, only teasing ...
With a bike that has such classic retro lines I can see that you are more than half way there already. It also makes me realise why Deus Ex Machina bikes cost so much ...

Yeah it did. But the thing weighed a ton!!! (however, riding in the rain with open face helmet and just goggles, is like getting a pressure washer in the
face!)

On the SR500 forum, some guy has posted a thread detailing how to make an english wheel... and pretty simple instructions on beating bits of flat
SS into beautiful fenders. I'm keen to give it a go. For custom front and rear fenders from japan, you're looking at about $600-700 all up. So well
worth the time in learning a new skill.

Fizz: That bike is incredible... i've always wanted a speed triple, but given its monstrous proportions i had to settle for something a little easier to
handle :-)

> decided I am going to hunt for good used 1050 - They r just to awesome.

The 1050 triple engine is hands down one of the best road bike engines ever made. When I say 'road' I mean real road conditions. So many of the litre class bikes out there today are so heavily optimised for the track, or for horsepower bragging rights, that they are not so useful in the real world. The 1050 makes 90% of its peak torque from about 3500 revs onwards. Once the tach is above about 4000 revs, it just *hauls*.

On 2/07/2009 tmarsh wrote:>The 1050 makes 90% of its peak torque from about 3500 revs onwards.>Once the tach is above about 4000 revs, it just *hauls*.

More than one bike like that on the road. My bikes 'sweet spot' is 3800 rpm, it redlines up around* (*not exactly sure without going to look at the dial!), 9800; ... but I have had no need to run it past 7500 and only then if I am pushing it !
Quite frankly I am amazed at what modern motorcycle machinery is capable of. Going to PI was a real eye opener in terms of informing me what kind of abuse they can take.
;-)

The USA MotoGP is on live tomorrow morning at 6.45 am. ~> A half decent time to watch it methinks!